Only a handful of Manchester City players have played more minutes in the Premier League this season than Rico Lewis. This highlights how important the 19-year-old has become to Pep Guardiola’s team, with Lewis deployed at right back and in central midfield. Lee Carsley has clearly been watching.

Lewis’ fine form for Manchester City at club level has earned him a spot in the England squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Greece and Finland. This comes after the teenager started at left back for the Three Lions in last month’s win over Finland, underlining his impressive versatility.

This versatility could make Lewis the ultimate cohesion player for England, just as he is for City. As interim England manager, Carsley is placing a greater emphasis on controlling games through possession. The 19-year-old could be a valuable option in central midfield or elsewhere.

“He can play in all positions,” said Guardiola when asked about Lewis’ best position. “I see sometimes when players are asked, they say ‘yeah I’m a holding midfielder’ or ‘I am a winger’ – Rico can play football and you put him in a position, and he knows exactly what he has to do. All the games he has played so far, he has been really, really good and that’s why he’s deserved the minutes he has had so far.”

At right back, Lewis has the natural defensive instincts to offer protection but is also comfortable enough with the ball to push into the centre of midfield. This could be particularly useful for England as they looked to squeeze the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer into the same lineup. Lewis could free up one of them to push forward.

For all the talent England possesses, they have struggled to find the right balance in the middle of the pitch. Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice partnered at Euro 2020, but neither was particularly creative going forward. Bellingham operated as a number eight at the 2022 World Cup but has now settled into a role further forward.

Gareth Southgate used several players, including Conor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo, Rice, and even Trent Alexander-Arnold, in central midfield at Euro 2024 but again failed to find the right balance. Carsley should look at how Guardiola has used Lewis to fill gaps in his Manchester City midfield this season.

Alternatively, Carsley could deploy Lewis as a pure central midfielder and give him the responsibilities of covering for an attack-minded right back like Alexander-Arnold or Reece James once the Chelsea defender is fit again. Lewis could also play as a left-back again like he did in the last international window.

England currently boasts a generation of superstars. Harry Kane is arguably the best centre-forward in world football, while Bellingham is a contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or. Palmer can’t stop scoring for Chelsea, while Foden was the best player in the Premier League last season.

Rice is a central pillar of Arsenal’s title-challenging team, and Bukayo Saka has the potential to be the Gunners’ best wide attacker since Thierry Henry. All these players are English, but this talent level still hasn’t resulted in major tournament glory for the Three Lions. Other national teams simply have better cohesion.

Carsley is spoiled for choice in all areas of the pitch, but he must be mindful of the team’s overall structure, and Lewis is a player who could hold England together. If England’s bigger picture right now is to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, the Manchester City teenager must be part of the plans.